Education Secretary Duncan Announces $11.25 Million to Benefit Working Adults and Displaced Workers Enrolled in Community Colleges

FOR RELEASE:
October 09, 2009

Contact: Jane Glickman or Stephanie Babyak
(202) 401-1576 or

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of $11.25
million in grants for 29 projects to benefit working adults and
displaced workers pursuing degrees or credentials in community colleges.
The grants will focus on preparing adult learners with the marketable
skills and knowledge to address employer needs in high-growth
occupations.

"The Obama Administration is committed to helping displaced workers and
adult learners garner the training and support they need to succeed in
the workplace, especially during these trying economic times," Secretary
Duncan said. "These grants give community colleges an opportunity to
tailor their activities and instruction to meet the unique needs of
adult learners, many of whom must retrain to re-enter the 21st century
workforce with newly honed skills."

The grants are administered by the Fund for the Improvement of
Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), which supports reforms, innovations,
and significant improvements of postsecondary education that serve as
national models. Under the FIPSE program, the Secretary may make grants
for special projects that respond to problems of national significance
and need. This year, the Secretary authorized a special focus
competition seeking innovative strategies in community colleges for
working adults and displaced workers.

Located in 20 states, the 29 grantees include community colleges,
sometimes in combination with other institutions of higher education and
public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies. Projects
encompass a wide-range of activities depending on the needs of the
grantee's student population, including academic remediation, tutoring,
counseling and a variety of support services. Some projects will use
distance learning for outreach to a diverse audience of adult learners.

Funding announced today is for two years of the three-year projects.
The third year will be funded in fiscal year 2011.

Following is a list of grantees, by state, city, contact information and
grant amounts.